Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Howdy everyone! I am sooooo thrilled to be with you here today on the first official day of sneak peeks for Taylored Expressions September release!!! This release is a big one and, if I may be so bold to say, my most favorite one to date! And if you saw Taylor's post yesterday, you noticed we have some new faces to the team...YAY!! Although I am very sad to see Alex, Carolina, and Jeanie go, I am also very excited to be teamed up with Danielle, Regina, and Tori!

So, lets get this party started, shall we??!

Today, the Baker's Dozen and some very SPECIAL guests are together giving you some sneaks of TWO new stamp sets, Make a Wish and Borderlicious, the Bubbles Background, coordinating Balloon and Border dies, AND the Make a Wish Project Pantry. WHEW! That was a mouthful! And if that wasn't enough for you to take in, the Make a Wish set is also the new Giving Tree stamp set of the quarter! Absolutely all of these lovelies were illustrated by our super-fabulous illustrator, Nancy McKinney!!!! I am sooo excited for all of these new sets and dies and I just know the new Giving Tree set will be my latest and greatest "go-to" sets!

How about we show some pretty pictures while I chat with you, yes?? :)

Oh my goodness I just ADORE this cake!! I love how whimsical and fun it is and that it completely lends itself to getting all glitzed up. :) And notice those felt balloons? Yep, those are new balloon dies!! They coordinate PERFECTLY with this stamp set and will definitely be a must have in your crafting arsenal! Now, I didn't show you how the dies coordinate with the balloon stamps, but I DID use some of the new felt just for fun and texture. I know!! I love it too!

Everything that I have used on the card came straight from the coordinating Make a Wish Project Pantry...the papers, ribbon, twine, AND yummy Espresso Dimensional Pearls! Now, since this set is a giving tree set it will come on a rubber sheet (and need to be trimmed before use), as this saves on the manufacturing costs and allows Taylor to be able to donate more to the charity!

With the purchase of this set, not only will you be getting a super adorable and versatile birthday stamp set, you will also be giving to such a profound organization. Need I really say more?! :)

So what do you think so far? I am just IN LOVE!! How about we hop along and see what everyone else has in store for you?? I know they will ALL be just lovely!!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Hey everyone! I have an exciting post to you packed full of pictures! I've been working diligently on, what is now, my new little crafting "precious." But here's a little background before we get started!

So, each month, half of the Baker's Dozen with Taylored Expressions gets a product in the TE store to spotlight! This month, I was one of the lucky 6 to work with the Frame Your Imagination Vertical Stand. And I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it! I have all these recipes that I absolutely adore that are disorganized in random magazines, cookbooks, and junk drawer! Basically, a chaotic mess! So I decided to hunker down and make a recipe stand. One that, while matching my kitchen, would still fit my "style." This was just a breeze to work with! The stand is exclusive to Taylored Expressions and is perfectly sanded...ready for you to stain, paint, or cover with patterned paper! The stand is an absolute steal at only $12.99, but since it is the product spotlight of the month, it will be discounted to $10.99 only for just a few days (August 26-29)!!

So here is my stand, and I purchased some chipboard tabbed books that fit perfectly in my stand as recipe dividers and cover. :)

I then painted a single coat of maroon acrylic paint all over my stand. It dried VERY quickly and I was able to stipple an off-white color all over to make it look "aged." I also embellished my recipe cover with a bunch of my favorite vintagey things. :)

And I just love the way the stand turned out! I think the stippling really adds that little bit of flare, and of course, I couldn't pass up using some vintage trim, spoon, glitter glass.....ahhhhh

Now, I've only created two dividers so far....I don't cook a whole lot! I mean, I make main meal dishes during the week and the occasional sweet treat (rarely), and that's about it for me! I figure that making the two dividers is a good start. :)

The "sweets..."

I just love the tabs at the bottom. I added a couple charms to dangle there...

And finally, the "mains....." the life force of meals in this house (mainly casseroles) LOL!

I just love it!! And I REALLY wish that I could share better pictures of it, but I tried to convince my husband I needed my own photo studio (with surround lighting) and he just wasn't having it! BOOHOO!

And to put together some quick recipe cards, I merely downloaded the Horizontal Recipe cards right from the TE store, (printed 2 to a page), adhered it to a piece of cardstock and added some leftover patterned paper scraps to the top for a title. I also had leftover ribbon, so I just wrapped that around the page for fun!

I really wish you could see it all in person...it's so much more stunning! :) Either way, hope you've enjoyed my project, and be sure and take advantage of the sale! I'd love to see how you "frame your imagination." :)

Here are a list of supplies that I used right out of the store in case you want to go shopping. :)

Sunday, August 22, 2010

The final few days of summer vacation are coming to a close...I can't believe it's already that time again! We have orientation at Harrison's school Monday evening and he'll be back to school Wednesday morning!! I figured I should make a couple cards...one for his "new" 1st grade teacher and one for his Kinder teacher. We love them both soo much! And I only say "new" in reference to his 1st grade teacher because he actually had her for pre-kinder. We're sooo thrilled to have her again, as last year was her first year teaching 1st and she is just so amazingly talented with the children. Just so excited for him!!

I used Jen's Sketch for You to Try as my inspiration and just went with it! I knew I was going to use Make the Grade paired with Extra Credit, as these are just PERFECT sets for any kind of school related crafty projects. :) I paper pieced the school-house with some retired Stampin' Up! designer paper and Basic Gray cardstock for the trim, and just filled in everything else with my Copics. AND...the alphabet strip at the top is also actually not patterned paper, but just the alphabet from the Extra Credit set stamped on a piece of Summer Sun cardstock. I just love how that turned out!

And finally a clean and simple styled card. This was created because the base of this one was actually a reject for the previous one, lol! I just couldn't let it go to waste! The base was embossed with the Apples embossing folder from Quickutz, and to really show off the cute embossing, I used the new frame from the set, Take Note (along with the coordinating Take Note Die I), to frame my greeting from Extra Credit. I stamped the frame in my new favorite ink, Olive Pastel, while my stamped apple was colored in with Copics. To finish, I just wrapped the card up with Cherry Twine and called it done! Quick and easy stamping my friends!

And now I'm off to get busy working on some other projects I have in store for you. :)

Friday, August 20, 2010

Wow! I just realized I haven't posted anything all week! Definitely not from a lack of not crafting. :) I've been busy as a bee with this being the last week before my little soon-to-be-1st grader starts school next Wednesday. I'm so excited for him! I've spent all this week savoring the moments I get to spend all day with him until school swiftly sweeps him away for some "higher" learning. :) I know I've said that I'm looking forward to him starting school...Lord knows I could use the break, but it's also bittersweet. He's just growing so quickly right before my eyes and I can do nothing about it but sit and watch. *sigh*

At least it's a Friday, right?? I'm so excited to share with you the fun sketch for the week...

Won't you carve out a special moment to yourself to get crafty and play along? It doesn't even have to be a card, but whatever you create, I'd love to see it!

And I just wouldn't be me if my translation of the sketch didn't look a curiously bit unlike the sketch, at best, right? :) LOL! I thoroughly enjoyed making it though. :)

I stamped my favorite little precious butterfly in Sahara Sand from the set, Summer Afternoon, right onto my patterned papers from Webster's Pages Life's Portrait collection. My greeting was stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia from the lovely sympathy set, Care & Comfort. My little doilies are from Martha Stewart that I spritzed with Wheatfields Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels. The gorgeous coral flower is from Prima and I dazzled it up a bit with some of the Chunky Sprinkles Iridescent glitter from Stampin' Up! I also added a vintage ticket and put a tiny strip of patterned paper on top of it with flitting butterflies. :) I just had to finish off my card with a little more bling using Taylor's Tiny twinkles...LOVE these little guys!

Let's check out what the rest of the Sketch Crew has to share with you!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Happy Friday people!! I hope you had a wonderful week. I did...just knowing that there's only one week left until school starts! I know I'm reading on others blogs that people are just torn up that their kids have begun school this week...Ok...is it wrong that I'm jealous? LOL! I'm sooo ready for school to start! Love those kids to death!

So I have the latest TE Sketch Challenge for you today, and while it *may* put you in the mood to get a load of laundry in the wash...resist and get creative instead! Here's your sketch for the week. :)

And here is how I interpreted it...

There's quite a bit of shimmer in this card...just so striking in person! I spritzed both the flowers and leaves with that glimmer spritz for shine. Of course, that's TOTALLY not captured in the full photo..maybe this one's better?

I used the new Garden Party Blooms Die Set #2 to make my flower and stems. I am in LOVE with these new dies! My patterned paper is from Girl Friday by Cosmo Cricket...another paper pad I adore that has been sadly neglected! My rectangular panels are actually vellum that I stitched right on top of my card...love that look! And finally, my sentiment came from A Year of Sweet Sentiments...good golly, how did I go without this set for so long? Absolutely ALL the sentiments you could possibly NEED!

Well, there you go folks! I hope that you are able to participate this week, and be sure to check out the rest of the Sketch Crew's projects for even more inspiration!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Happy Thursday everyone! I've been on a bit of a kick lately trying to make no fuss, no muss cards. Cards that can be put together in just a matter of minutes and brings you back to the basics of stamping. It is sooo easy to do with the new Tweet Hearts set by Taylored Expressions. I took the latest sketch challenge from Splitcoast and went from there!

All the paper comes from the July Key Ingredients....which was the inspiration for the set! I stamped only in Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, and Basic Brown...quick, easy, and cute!

Making this short and sweet today, and I'll see you back tomorrow for the TE sketch! :)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Hey everyone! I would love to share another CAS card I created especially for Want 2 Scrap! (I sure have been on a CAS kick lately, haven't I??) I recently found, on fellow DT member Dana's blog, a gorgeous flower she had created and I just had to try my hand at one as well! Now, I didn't download the Kalleigh Ratzlaff cut file, but I DO have an awesome die that has been neglected that I thought would work perfect! I used the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die, and it DID work beautifully! Oh, just as an fyi, I followed a tutorial that I saw HERE.

I just used some retired Soft Sky (Stampin' Up!) cardstock to create my flower and spritzed with a bit of Blue Skies Glimmer Mist and added a bit of Tea Dye distress ink to the edges.

And to dress up my card and really make some sparkle, I added the gorgeous Swirls in Silver Rhinestones, which laid itself out perfectly on my card. :) Doesn't the bling really pack a pretty punch??! Oh! And I also used a brand new Basic Grey/Sizzix Christmas embossing folder that I found on my latest venture to Joann.

Definitely go and check out all the bling that Want 2 Scrap carries...you simply can not beat the price point AND selection!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Hello again everyone! If you are looking for the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge post, be sure to scroll down just one more post! Otherwise, I am SO pleased to share with you the final peeks AND release of the new sets, Tweet Hearts, Take Note, Take Note dies (three of them), and Garden Party Blooms dies (2 sets of 3!)

Now, I forgot to mention earlier that these TE exclusive dies are made from American Steel, manufactured right here in the USA! They will work in all your popular die cutting machines and can cut through cardstock, fabric, cork, chipboard, felt, metal, and whatever else you can shake a stick at! :) TOTALLY in love with these dies and I just know it's going to be another one of those "go-to" items for me!

And for my last sneak, before you're off to blog hop and shop, I am combining both new release sets together in a rather, clean and simple card. I know...do you think it can be done?? :)

It can! I always turn to white when I make my CAS cards...always so fresh...and clean! I knew that I wanted to actually use the negative space from my die as a focal image, so I started with my base cardstock and layered a smaller panel on top. I placed my bird from Tweet Hearts where I wanted him to be and then taped down the die (in relation to the bird) and then ran it through my Big Shot. I then laid my top panel back on my card base and positioned my stamp to fit perfectly through the die cut space. It worked like a charm! The rest came together very quickly! And can you see my boo-boo at the bottom? That's actually one of the border stamps from Tweet Hearts that I didn't stamp correctly. I liked the way it turned out though!!! Just goes to show, even a mistake can still work for ya. :) You think it's ok, right??

And I just NEED to mention this, since I neglected to on Wednesday....our very own, Jami Sibley concepted the Take Note stamp set!! I love it Jami!! And, of course, our wonderful illustrator Nancy McKinney did such a beautiful job visualizing it. I love, love, love it!

Finally, there are some great specials AND new additions to the TE store that you are going to have to check out!First, Taylor has a new binding machine that is just the Cadillac of all binding machines called the Cinch! Be sure to check out the video she made on her blog HERE.She is also carrying NEW...FELT TRIOS!! 9" x 6" sheets of wool blend felt in lots of yummy colors. This felt works wonderfully with our dies. We are offering 3 sheets in a trio of colors for just $1.00 (Triple Berry Trio, Fresh Veggie Trio, Winter-fresh Trio and Sundae Topping Trio) and 4 sheets (2 of each color) in our Marshmallow Creme Duo for $1.25. We are also offering the I Want it All Bundle for just $5.25.

Now, let's be off to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen with Jami, Nancy, and our guest designer, Stacey, have to share!

Howdy everyone! I hope you all have had a wonderful week, and since you are reading this, you know that today is Friday!! Friday brings us another Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge...and it also brings me an ice cold margarita in the evening. *grin* And man, oh man, I've been wanting this Chillax set (with the yummy beverages) for a while now!! I finally picked it up at CHA. :)

So here is your fun sketch for the week! I love this one. :)

And my translation...I stuck to it pretty well, I think!

Doesn't that look yummyliscious?? I stamped the margarita from Chillax with Memento Tuxedo Black on Choice Snow White cardstock and colored in with Copics. The fancy schmancy new label die coordinates with my stamped label from the new set, Take Note (which releases this morning!!) All of my papers used are from the super cute Summertime Project Pantry kit, which I just love! These new Echo Park papers are just the cutest! And did you notice I added a little "salt" to the rim of the glass in true Texas margarita form?!

Well, while I have daydreams of my evening margarita, peruse with me to the following blogs for even more inspiration from the sketch!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Hello again! Were you able to check out all the gorgeous sneaks yesterday featuring Take Note with it's coordinating dies? Did you not just love what you saw?! I tell ya, it took just about everything I had not to use one of the dies in today's project! But that's not the focus for today. The focus is another sneak on a bee-utiful new set illustrated by our very own uber-talented, Nancy McKinney, called Tweet Hearts!

I just adore the whimsy birds and how they are dressed up with flowers and paisley! This set is FANTASTIC quick stamping to build a gorgeous scene! And I did a LOT of stamping on this one!

I actually started with a scrap piece of patterned paper from my fave paper pad, Thrift Shop, and designed my card from there! I quickly stamped a scene and then embellished from there with a bunch of Crystal Twinkles, Multicolor Twinkles, and Bliss Pearls. And, I added a smidgen of vintage trim from my stash to that adorable bird's nest. :) Oh yeah!! I added a bit of Starfire glitter to birdie's wings for good measure. Wrapped the card up with some green seam binding into a big bow and a sugared heart and then called it (a very late night), LOL!

I hope you enjoyed my card and will venture further to see what the rest of the Dozen with Taylor and Jami have to share with you! See you back here tomorrow for the release and one final peek!!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Hey everyone! I survived CHA Chicago and I finally am feeling refreshed and re-energized! I had an absolute BLAST meeting and hanging out with everyone...so much so, it really deserves it's own post. :)

But I am here today, because it is that time again...time for another Taylored Expressions release this Friday!! If you were a lucky attendee of CHA, you probably already have this set (and the coordinating dies...yes, I said DIES!!) in your hot little hands! So, to whet your appetite (for those that couldn't attend), the Baker's Dozen and I are sneaking a new set called Take Note with it's coordinating dies.!

Oh I just love it!! I love the matchy matchy stamps with dies! I stamped the large label with Colorbox Olive Pastel ink. I swear, these inks are my new favorites!! They just stamp the images gorgeously! The dies are sooo easy to use! Die cutting them (after stamping your image first) is completely fail proof! You'll see when you get your dies in person. :)

I decided on creating a sketch book for my project. :) I must admit, this sketch book literally fell into my hands at CHA and I have every intention of gifting this right back to it's rightful owner! I hope she enjoys it's altered state. All the papers are from the Girl's Paperie...much like my last post! :) I hope you all aren't tired of it yet, lol.

And to switch gears, I have a totally clean and graphic card. I was able to get my hands on another one of the new dies...one that matches a previously released set, Garden Party Blooms! I only used one of the dies, but trust me, there are more! Here's my attempt at clean and simple....

I stamped the background with the Cloudy Days Background in, once again, my new favorite ink, Colorbox Ice Blue ink. I accented my die cut sun with buttons for a little bit of pop. :)

So are you as excited about the dies as I am??? Well let's check out what the rest of the team is sneaking for you...I can't wait to see! Also, don't forget to tune back in tomorrow for another sneak of another NEW set!